Posts Tagged ‘Memphis’

Despite having a seemingly heavy influence on the streets (which doesn’t matter at this point in the industry…sorry), being involved in big features and some high profile guest appearances on his latest album, Yo Gotti’s Live from the Kitchen is on pace to sell between 12k-15k copies first week. Judging by twitter, it seems as though people are having a hard time even finding the album on store shelves. Yo Gotti logged on to say:

IN NEW YORK N JUST FOUND OUT SO MO FUCKD UP SHIT ABOUT DA LABEL!!! #TheIndustryTrynaHoldMeBack. HOW DA FUCK YU EXPECT A NIGGA TO SALE SUM RECORDS WHEN U DONT SHIP NONE????

Under-shipped? That seems to be the theory at this point. Personally, I think it’s the combination of that and lack of awareness that the album actually dropped in the first place.

Memphis hip hop band FreeSol is back as they recruit Justin Timberlake and Timbo for their latest music video for “Fascinated.” FreeSol has been fortunate enough to have Timberlake on a number of tracks. Why? Because they’re on his music label. Check it.

Our friends FreeSol have just released their latest music video, which features their label boss Justin Timberlake. I love how they infuse rock and hip hop in their tracks. I don’t love Justin Timberlake dabbling in autotune. Check out my review of FreeSol’s live show right here, if interested.

Rapper Teflon Don, born Donald Askey Jr., filed a lawsuit today (Aug. 30) against Ross, also naming DJ Khaled, Def Jam Recordings, Universal Music Group, Slip-N-Slide Records and Maybach Music Group in the pending suit, for “trademark infringement, common-law trademark rights, trademark delusion, unfair competition, tortious interference and fraud and identity theft,” according to MemphisRap.com.

Teflon Don claims that Rick Ross and everyone involved in Ross’ Billboard 200 No. 2 album, “Teflon Don,” infringed on his brand, ultimately disrupting his growth and success. “I’m building a name, I’m building a brand and for someone to come with an album and an alias the name “Teflon Don” and they have big budgets to put behind it, it blocks me from progressing. I was climbing the ladder and it feels like I went straight downhill and I don’t feel like that’s fair.”

Allegedly, Teflon had “business dealings” with Khaled, UMG’s southern division of Def Jam Recordings and was working with Maybach Music Group. “On the song ‘I Represent’ DJ Khaled can be heard saying, ‘To My Homie Teflon Don, we the best,’… all these cats knew about me,” Teflon Don said of 2007 song, “I Represent,” off Coast 2 Coast Mixtape Vol. 10, which features the rapper.

“It is almost belittling to me because the music he [Rick Ross] puts out is almost demeaning and the music that I put out is more positive,” Teflon said. “We have two different crowds and it is making me lose clientele based on the fact that they think that I am a negative rapper. So when they hear that Teflon Don wants to perform at a certain place sometimes they think negative and that was not the brand that I was building all these years.”

Translation: A nobody rapper is trying to cash in because he also jacked John Gotti’s nickname. Moving on…

Here’s the latest music video from Memphis group FreeSol. This is more of a radio-friendly single that doesn’t necessarily utilize all of the band’s talents – but it serves its purpose.

FreeSol is signed to Justin Timberlake’s label, so you’ll notice his presence in the video as well. Check out my review of FreeSol’s live show a few weeks back right here.

Though I get music sent to me every day – so much that I can’t listen or go through everything – I also find out about artists/bands through pretty traditional outlets. I first heard of FreeSol by way of HBO’s Entourage utilizing their song, “Don’t Give it Away,” in the closing credits of one of their intense episodes. The net went crazy for the song. Props to Scott Vener.

A year later, I’m checking for their music because I think it has a lot of potential. Click below to check out my pictures and recap of their show last night at NYC’s historic Webster Hall:

Read the rest of this entry »

Memphis makes its stand on Birdman’s new single with Yo Gotti jumping on the track. When you get a chance, check out Derick G’s behind the scenes photos from the music video shoot.

Birdman ft. Lil Wayne, Yo Gotti – Fire Flame (remix)

Also, this dropped yesterday morning, but for whatever reason I never posted it up. Lil Wayne jumps on Nicki Minaj’s track that originally featured a coveted verse from Eminem.

Roman’s Revenge (Remix) ft. Lil Wayne

Rappers Yo Gotti and OG Boo Dirty are among 11 people wanted in connection with a fight that happened outside the Level II nightclub on Nov. 29.

A police affidavit states that Lance Taylor, a.k.a. OG Boo Dirty, and Mario Mims, a.k.a. Yo Gotti, “were involved in a verbal altercation.”

A third man got involved, and Boo Dirty allegedly punched him. A fight ensued, resulting in six people shot.

Three were struck in the buttocks, one in the wrist and one in the shoulder, according to the affidavit. The sixth victim was an off-duty security guard, who was standing about 40 yards from the melee.

Neither Yo Gotti nor OG Boo Dirty is in custody, as of Saturday night.

Yo Gotti’s lawyer, Art Horne, said that his client is out of town.

“He just wanted his fans and the public to know that…he doesn’t condone that type of behavior, and that again, he plans to deal with the charges that have been filed against him,” Horne said.

Horne added, “Once he comes back and deals with the allegations, I think his name will be cleared.”

Boo Dirty’s lawyer, Harold Durham, told News Channel 3 he had spoken with his client after the fight happened, but did not go into much detail. He was unaware of the arrest warrant out for his client.

Eleven warrants were issued on Friday, and by Saturday night, three men involved were in custody on charges of aggravated riot. They are Vernon McClendon, Kenneth Mason, and Howard Greer. The affidavit states that Greer was one of the people injured.

Via

So here is a classic case where the producer 0f a song actually raises awareness of an artist most would just pass over. This Layne Harper character an an up & coming MC from Memphis being groomed by the people at Def Jam/Universal.

Layne Harper – Don’t Hate Me (Prod. Kanye West)

For whatever reason, it seems like a lot more rappers are collaborating with Yo Gotti nowadays. And I’m just pointing that out because I’m not mad at that at all. Here, the Memphis man hooks up with Jae Millz to bring you “She Know What She Doing.” Not sure why Millz only released half of the song because I’m not sure what bigger project this is a part of.

Jae Millz ft. Yo Gotti – She Know What She Doing

Yo Gotti links up with some of the most celebrated new MC’s in the mainstream to give us a supercharged version of “Look in da Mirror.” I’m not mad at this at all:

Look in da Mirror (remix)

Yo Gotti gives the BMF instrumental the Memphis treatment, noting some notorious Tennessee drug movers. You can download the track here.

Cuz ya gotta waste your money on something….

Jeezy and Gotti flip the script on the infamous Jay-Z “All Black Everything” line (that, apparently, everyone listened to…and are pretty lame if you’re letting another man dictate your fashion trends) and give you that white.

The Southern boys try to flip the current ”all-black” trend and put you on that white. You buyin it?